Autobayng News Team
Two team mates went into the final round of last season fighting for the world championship – and it looks increasingly like the same will happen again this year.
With most teams making no changes to their driver line-ups for the 2026 F1 season, where are the closest fights to be found, and which drivers are showing the other side of the garage how it’s done? Here’s the state of play after the first four rounds:
McLaren: Norris vs Piastri
On the face of it the duo that took the world championship fight to the final round last year seem as closely matched as ever so far. Oscar Piastri appears to have a slight lead in qualifying but factor in sprint races and the score is three-all.
| AUS | CHI | JAP | MIA | ||
| Norris | Q |  | | |  |
| R |  | | | |
Unrepresentative comparisons omitted. Negative value: Norris was faster; Positive value: Piastri was faster
Mercedes: Russell vs Antonelli
Given the gap in experience between the two Mercedes drivers, George Russell should be further ahead in what looks like being the title fight of 2026. Granted, the Safety Car landed poorly for him in China and Japan, and he had car trouble in qualifying in the former, but he’s let other points-scoring chances pass him by, notably with a weak outing in Miami.
| AUS | CHI | JAP | MIA | ||
| Russell | Q | | | | |
| R | | | | |
Unrepresentative comparisons omitted. Negative value: Russell was faster; Positive value: Antonelli was faster
Red Bull: Verstappen vs Hadjar
Max Verstappen’s newest team mate looked like a closer match for him over the first rounds with F1’s new regulations. However after Red Bull introduced a major update in Miami, Verstappen leapt ahead, though Isack Hadjar’s disqualification from qualifying left him at a disadvantage for the race.
| AUS | CHI | JAP | MIA | ||
| Verstappen | Q | | | | |
| R | | | | |
Unrepresentative comparisons omitted. Negative value: Verstappen was faster; Positive value: Hadjar was faster
Ferrari: Leclerc vs Hamilton
Although Lewis Hamilton looks more comfortable with the current generation of cars, Charles Leclerc still retains an edge over his team mate. Leclerc’s wild end to the last race and subsequent penalty reduced the points gap between them.
| AUS | CHI | JAP | MIA | ||
| Leclerc | Q | | | | |
| R | | | | |
Unrepresentative comparisons omitted. Negative value: Leclerc was faster; Positive value: Hamilton was faster
Williams: Albon vs Sainz
By the second half of last year, Williams newcomer Carlos Sainz Jnr was increasingly showing Alexander Albon the way. He has sustained that momentum into 2026, though Williams are now scrapping for the low end of the points places.
| AUS | CHI | JAP | MIA | ||
| Albon | Q | | | | |
| R | | | | |
Unrepresentative comparisons omitted. Negative value: Albon was faster; Positive value: Sainz Jnr was faster
Racing Bulls: Lindblad vs Lawson
Arvid Lindblad hasn’t been able to repeat the high of his brilliant start to the season in Australia, partly owing to misfortune. That has allowed Liam Lawson to gather up enough points to move ahead – for now at least.
| AUS | CHI | JAP | MIA | ||
| Lindblad | Q | | | | |
| R | | | | |
Unrepresentative comparisons omitted. Negative value: Lindblad was faster; Positive value: Lawson was faster
Aston Martin: Stroll vs Alonso
Amidst the misery of Aston Martin’s point-less start to the season, the usual pecking order prevails. Fernando Alonso has now out-qualified Lance Stroll for more than 40 consecutive grands prix, stretching back to 2024.
| AUS | CHI | JAP | MIA | ||
| Stroll | Q | | | | |
| R | | | | |
Unrepresentative comparisons omitted. Negative value: Stroll was faster; Positive value: Alonso was faster
Haas: Ocon vs Bearman
Oliver Bearman gradually asserted himself against experienced team mate Esteban Ocon last season and has begun 2026 very strongly. Only one driver has a higher share of his team’s points.
| AUS | CHI | JAP | MIA | ||
| Ocon | Q | | | | |
| R | | | | |
Unrepresentative comparisons omitted. Negative value: Ocon was faster; Positive value: Bearman was faster
Audi: Hulkenberg vs Bortoleto
Gabriel Bortoleto’s ninth place in the season-opener accounts for all of Audi’s points so far. Although that somewhat exaggerates his advantage in the competition with team mate Nico Hulkenberg, it’s fair to say Bortoleto has built on the promise he showed with his excellent qualifying performance last year. However Audi’s unreliability prevents any strong conclusions being drawn at this stage.
| AUS | CHI | JAP | MIA | ||
| Hulkenberg | Q | | | | |
| R | | | | |
Unrepresentative comparisons omitted. Negative value: Hulkenberg was faster; Positive value: Bortoleto was faster
Alpine: Gasly vs Colapinto
Franco Colapinto deserved a better finish in China, where Esteban Ocon hit him, and collected a rewarding points haul in Miami, where it was team mate Pierre Gasly’s turn to be taken out. The points share between the two therefore feels generally reflective of their relative performances.
| AUS | CHI | JAP | MIA | ||
| Gasly | Q | | | | |
| R | | | | |
Unrepresentative comparisons omitted. Negative value: Gasly was faster; Positive value: Colapinto was faster
Cadillac: Perez vs Bottas
No points yet at newcomers Cadillac, but Sergio Perez is the narrow favourite to collect the first of any which might come their way.
| AUS | CHI | JAP | MIA | ||
| Perez | Q | | | | |
| R | | | | |
Unrepresentative comparisons omitted. Negative value: Perez was faster; Positive value: Bottas was faster
Formula 1
- “Not correct” to say Ferrari should have discovered Antonelli instead of Mercedes
- Vowles explains the mistakes behind Williams’ stumbling start to 2026
- Should Formula 1 drivers be penalised for failing to “respect the sport”?
- Formula 1 to abandon 50-50 power split between engine and battery for 2027 season
- Miami stats: Mercedes have now won at every track on the F1 calendar – so far
